It feels terrible and amazing at the same time. There isn’t much else in the world that’s as necessary and as good for you. It pumps you up, builds positive energy (not to mention muscles), and keeps you alert. Working out is nearly perfect. Nearly.

There are risks associated with exercising that can ruin the experience of staying in shape and looking your best. Let’s take a look at 5 of them.

Muscle damage
Muscle damage, or rhabdomyolysis, is a result of extreme over-exertion during workouts. When we exercise too rigorously, contractile proteins within muscles are broken down for energy. Although carbohydrates and fats are also consumed, connective tissues can be stressed and torn, leading to damaged muscles.

Asbestos
Asbestos is a natural mineral found in dry wall and insulation in older buildings and gyms. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can cause a deadly lung cancer called mesothelioma. Mesothelioma symptoms are difficult to catch. Since the symptoms are often latent fro 20-50 years, mesothelioma life expectancy is often short. Do your research and avoid gyms that may contain asbestos.

Sports Drinks
Why do most of us work out? For some, it may be for athletic performance capabilities. But no one can deny that looking good isn’t on their mind. Sports drinks may offer a boost of energy, but they are extremely hazardous to your teeth. The acids in these drinks tear at enamel and could ruin that gorgeous smile. Working out could actually make you look worse!

Heat exhaustion
Even working out indoors can lead to heat exhaustion. The symptoms are tricky, mainly because they resemble workout effects like cool, moist skin, heavy sweating, fatigue, and dizziness. BE cautious of how warm your body is becoming, even if you’re in an air conditioned building. Heat exhaustion, if not addressed can lead to heat stroke, which can be fatal.

Withdrawal
Stopping while over-exercising can have negative effects. It can produce mood changes, including depression and irritation, because of withdrawal from the natural hormones, endorphins, which your body creates when you work out. Endorphins are responsible for the high that working out gives, but cutting these off can result in a drastic low.

Remember, working out is more than important. It’s necessary. You need to exercise to be healthy. But be careful how and where you workout. Too much and in the wrong place can lead to hazards that you want to avoid.

Author

By Eric Stevenson, a health and safety advocate, for questions about this blog please feel free to contact him at epicsurvivor@gmail.com

Interesting, not many people list ‘withdrawal’ as a result of over exercising as a risk factor, but it’s definitely one. It’s one of those things, it’s hard to explain to some clients that while yes exercise is good for you, 4 hours of it a day is probably not good for you…